Bag support and handle for vacuum cleaners



E. D. THORNWALD BAG SUPPORT AND HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Sept. 16, 1952 Filed Aug 13, 1949 Sept. 16, 1952 E. D. THORNWALD 2,610,702

BAG SUPPORT AND HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS I Filed Aug. 15, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 J78 z "enzoi" fierezz D. 772072006120! Patented Sept. 16, 1952 BAG SUPPORT AND HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS I Everett D. Thornwald, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Clements Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1949, Serial No. 110,105

My invention relates to an improvement in bag supports for vacuum cleaners and the like.

One purpose is to provide an improved bag support.

Another purpose is to provide an improved handle assembly which includes a dirt receiving bag and a support therefor.

Another purpose is to provide an improved connection between a combined bag and handle assembly and a vacuum cleaner.

Another purpose is to provide an improved structure for handling removable and disposable dirt bags for vacuum cleaners.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specifications and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fi u e 2; a

Figure 5 is a perspective of the bag support itself.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specifications and drawings.

I generally indicates a floor or other surface upon which a vacuum cleaner may be positioned and across which it may be moved.

2 indicates the motor housing of a vacuum cleaner.

3 indicates the rear supporting roller or rollers.

generally indicates a bag housing which also, with its associated parts, performs the function of an actuating and control handle for the vacuum cleaner. The housing ID has 'connected to its lower end arms II which may be suitably hinged to, or pivoted to, the vacuum cleaner as at l2. The container I0 may be formed of sheet metal, plastic, or any other suitable material but is preferably. thin walled 8 Claims. (Cl. 183-51) and is, at least in part, air pervious. For example, I illustrate a foraminous portion M which may extend throughout a substantial part of the area of the housing 10. The housing is also open at the bottom as at 15, whereby air may freely flow downwardly into the surrounding space. The side members or arms H may be in the form of a unitary structure including side walls IS, a front wall l1, and a shorter rear wall I8. However, the bottom of the member thus formed is open to allow egress of air from the housing I0. I illustrate the employment of apertured lugs l9 which may be unitary with a casting structure, through which any suitable securing members may pass, for securing the lower edge of the housing Ill to the upper edges of the walls 16, I1, and I8. Any suitable'anchor or angle irons 2| may be employed, welded, or otherwise secured to th inner surface of housing I 0. The upper end of the housing I0 is shown as having a reduced or stepped portion 22 and an upper inner flange 23 adapted to center or extend within a closure portion 24 hinged as at 25 to the upper edge of the housing ID. The parts may be held in the closed position in which, they are shown in Figures 2 and 4 by any suitable latches 26, the upperportions of which engage abutments 21; in the handle closure 24, as shown, for example, "in Figure 2. The closure 24 has upwardly extending from it the handle portion proper, indicated as at 28. It is shown as carrying, for example, a switch 29 to control any suitable circuit not herein shown for any suitable motor within the motor housing 2.

Positioned within, and preferably welded to, the upper edge of the housing!!! is a plate 30 having a circumferential flange 3 I, a bag receiving aperture 32, and a tube receiving aperture 33. Depending from the plate 30 is any suitable bag support, herein illustrated as wire loops34 positioned about and extending downwardly below and in alignment with, the bag receiving aperture 32. The loops close at the bottom as at 35 to form a bottom support for a disposable bag 36 which may he slipped downwardly through the aperture 32 when the closure 24 is in the open position. The top of the disposable bag 36 may be threaded about any suitable member such as the rubber or yielding bushing 38 at the end of a flexible tube 31 which extends down wardly to and is removably secured to, a fitting 39 which, in turn, is removably secured to the air outlet 1 of the vacuum cleaner. -As will-be clear from section 2 the tube 31 extends upwardly through the open bottom of the housing 10 and may pass through or be secured by, any suitable support; or loop 40 in a lower part of the housing I0. Its upper end may be passed through the aperture 33 and may be readily removably secured to the bag 36, as by any suitable compression clamp 4|. The clamp 4| may, if desired, be further connected to, or centered upon, the tube 31 by a positioning hook 42.

It will thus be realized that, in the use of the device, the fitting 39 may be removably secured to the air outlet 1 of the vacuum cleaner, the tube 31 may be removably secured to the fitting 39 and to the bag 36, and the bag 36 may be readily dropped into the Wire bag support 34, 35 in the position in which it is shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device; nevertheless, many changes may be made in size, shape, number, and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my special showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I illustrate a sightly and compact combined handle and bag holding structure which is freely flexibly mounted on a vacuum cleaner and which may efliciently be used to propel the cleaner across the surface to be cleaned. I prefer to employ a disposable bag of paper, fiber, light cloth, or the like, which may be removably secured to a connection such as the flexible tube 31. When the operator has used the vacuum cleaner for a sufficient period substantially to fill or to impair the qualities of the disposable ba 36, the operator need only release the latches 26, swing the closure 24 and the handle 28 about the hinge 25, and then remove the tube 31 from the upper end of the disposable bag. The disposable bag is then upwardly withdrawn through the aperture k 32 and disposed of. A new bag is then clamped or secured to the end of the flexible tube 31. Either before or after it is secured to the tube, the bag is passed through the aperture 32 and is properly positioned within supports 34. The operator then returns the closure 24 and the handle 28 to the position in which they are shown in Figures 1 and 4, and proceeds to use the device until a new bag is again necessary.

I have not illustrated any connecting cord for a motor but it will be understood that any suitable flexible conductive connection or cord will be used. It may pass through, or be secured to, any suitable cord brackets or loops 59, formed at the rear of the housing tent. These brackets, as shown in Figure 3, may be formed to permit the cord to be wound thereabout for storage. If a yielding or automatic take-up or reel is to be employed there is ample space for it within the lower end of the housing ID or within the space surrounded by the walls I6, I! and I8.

Whereas the bag 36 is concealed and protected, air from the bag can freely escape through the open bottom of the housing in or any suitable foraminous portion or portions l4.

Whereas I have illustrated the use of a top closure 24, with the attached handle 28, it will be understood that it is practical to provide other access arrangements for the interior of the bag enclosing element or housing If).

I claim:

1. In a combined handle and bag support for floor supported vacuum cleaners, a generally rigid bag housing, having a top opening of adequate size for the upward removal of a bag, means for flexibly securing its lower end to a vacuum cleaner floor tool for rotation in relation to said tool about a generally horizontal axis, said housing having an opening at its lower end, positioned and adapted to provide a substantial .air outlet space, a bag holder positioned within said housin and formed and adapted to receive a bag having a cross-sectional area substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the housing, said bag holder being formed and adapted normally to limit the downward movement 01 the bag to a predetermined position of the bag, while permitting upward removal of the bag through the top opening of the housing, said l'lOIlSlIlg having a top closure movably secured to its upper end, said closure having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said housing having within it means for supporting, exteriorly of the bag, a flexible air discharge duct of sufficient length to extend through the open bottom of the housing from the vacuum cleaner to the upper end of a bag positioned in said bag holder.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a housing having an air-pervious side wall portion.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a housing having a foraminous side wall portion.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a combined handle and closure hinged to the upper end of the housing.

5. In a combined handle and bag support for a vacuum cleaner, adapted to be secured to a floor tool, a generally rigid bag housing having an open lower end, a combined closure and handle for its upper end, a bag support Within said housing adapted to receive a disposable bag, and a flexible air tube adapted to be removably secured to the floor tool, said air tube extending upwardly within said housing, and means for removably securing the upper end of said air tube to a disposable bag adapted for positionin within said bag support, at a point adjacent the upper end of the bag housing.

6. The structure of claim 5 characterized by and including an open topped bag holder in the housing.

'7. The structure of claim 5 characterized by and including an open topped bag holder in the housing, the top of the bag holder being adjacent the top of the housing, but spaced downwardly below the closure by a distance sufficient to permit the passage of the flexible air tube to the top of a bag in said holder.

8. In a combined handle and bag support for floor supported vacuum cleaners, a generally rigid bag housing, having a top opening of adequate size for the upward removal of a bag, means for flexibly securing its lower end to a vacuum cleaner floor tool for rotation in relation to said tool about a generally horizontal axis, said housing having an opening at its lower end, positioned and adapted to provide a substantial air outlet space, a bag holder positioned within said housing and formed and adapted to receive a bag having a cross-sectional area substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the housing, said bag holder including a supporting plate p0- sitioned within the housing adjacent the top of the housing, said plate having a bagreceiving aperture and a tube receiving aperture and one or more bag holding members extending downwardly from and aligned with the bag receiving aperture of the plate, said housing having a top closure movably secured to its upper end, said closure having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle portion, said housing having within it means for supporting. exteriorly of the bag, a flexible air discharge duct of suflicient length to extend through the open bottom of the housing from the vacuumcleaner to the upper end of a bag positioned in said bag holder.

EVERETT D. THORNWALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

